2012's Top 20 songs from Baltimore artists [Pictures & Videos]

20.) Dunson, "Count on It"

Kenton Dunson's YouTube page

The video above contains explicit language. Sounding like a Juelz Santana song from the silliest (and best) Dipset days, this "Sesame Street"-sampling mixtape cut from the Columbia-based MC feels like the arrival of a smart, supremely confident voice.

The video above contains explicit language. Sounding like a Juelz Santana song from the silliest (and best) Dipset days, this "Sesame Street"-sampling mixtape cut from the Columbia-based MC feels like the arrival of a smart, supremely confident voice. (Kenton Dunson's YouTube page)

The long-time veterans of the Baltimore alt-country scene quietly delivered another reliable album of earnest ballads and music to drink and dance to. The melancholic "Drive All Night" sounds made to be blasted from an AM radio. Stream it here.

The long-time veterans of the Baltimore alt-country scene quietly delivered another reliable album of earnest ballads and music to drink and dance to. The melancholic "Drive All Night" sounds made to be blasted from an AM radio. Stream it here. (Handout)

It's easy to forget, but Baltimore's beyond-diverse music scene makes other cities jealous. For such a relatively small, tight-knit community, it constantly evolves and reinvents itself with fresh music and voices each year. Our artists, even the "cool" ones, are mostly outliers, crafting the music they want to hear first and hoping everyone else likes it later. As this list of the 20 best songs from local musicians suggests, it's a fruitful process. Consider it a reminder that we're spoiled as fans. -- Wesley Case | @midnightsunblog Also see: 5 promising Baltimore rappers | Baltimore album reviews